2021-09-15
Romeine 6:12 DB
Paulys skryf: ‘…beskou julleself as dood vir die sonde. Leef net vir God!.. Moenie toelaat dat die sonde en sondige begeertes ooit weer ‘n houvas op julle kry… nie. Moenie dat ‘n enkele liggaamsdeel van julle ooit in diens van die sonde staan nie. Nee, gee julle lewens vir God, van kop tot tone… (verse 11-13 DB). As jy hom toelaat, sal jou liggaam jou van die pad laat afdwaal. Dis nie dat jou liggaam boos is nie, maar dit het sekere aptyte wat altyd gereed is om op eksterne stimuli te reageer, wat alles baie aantreklik en tydelik bevredigend is.
Chuck Swindoll skryf: ‘Die lewe op aarde is werklik niks meer as ‘n string oomblikke nie. Ek wil nie hê dat my getuienis vir Jesus Christus deur ‘n enkele oomblik wat ek aan my liggaam toegee, verpletter moet word nie. Ek wil nie hê dat een oomblik van woede of trots of begeerte ‘n skadu oor ‘n leeftyd van wandel met my Here gooi nie. Ek vrees inderwaarheid daardie moontlikheid. Ek wil daardie moontlikheid vrees. Sodra ek ophou om dit te vrees – is ek in ernstige gevaar.’
Hoe hanteer jy dus jou vleeslike begeertes? Die enigste manier om dit te doen, is om God se Woord jou gedragskode te maak en te weier om kompromieë aan te gaan. Jesus het gesê: ‘…As iemand saam met My wil kom, dan moet hy nie dink aan wat hy self graag wil hê nie…’ (Matteus 16:24 ABA). Kyk elke dag vir ‘n geleentheid uit om jouself in ‘n klein area te ontsê. Jy sal verbaas wees hoe moeilik dit is! Die beloning kom egter later, wanneer jy nodig het om jouself in ‘n groot area in die lewe, waarvan daar baie meer afhang, te ontsê.
Sielskos: 2 Kor 1-4; Luk 22:1-13; Ps 78:56-64; Spr 20:25
Romans 6:12 NLT
Paul writes: “Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ…Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires…[or] let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God” (vv. 11-13 NLT).
If you let it, your body will lead you astray. It’s not that it’s evil, but it has certain appetites which are always ready to respond to surrounding stimuli, all of which are terribly appealing and temporarily satisfying.
Chuck Swindoll writes: “Life on earth is really nothing more than a string of moments…And I don’t want my testimony for Jesus Christ to be shattered by a single moment of indulging my flesh. I don’t want one moment of rage or pride or lust to cast a shadow over a lifetime of walking with my Lord. Frankly, I fear that possibility. And do you know what? I want to fear that possibility. When I stop fearing it – I’m in grave danger.”
So how do you deal with your carnal appetites? The only way is to make God’s Word your code of conduct and refuse to compromise. And if you need a role model you won’t find a better one than Jesus. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves” (Matthew 16:24 NIV). Each day, look for an opportunity to deny yourself in some small area. You’ll be surprised how hard it is! But the payoff comes later when you need to deny yourself in a big area of life that has much more riding on it.
Soul food: 2 Cor 1-4; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 78:56-64; Prov 20:25
Romans 6:12 NLT
Paul wrote: ‘Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ…Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires…[or] let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God’ (v.11-13 NLT).
There are so many things that can tempt us away from what’s really good for us. They’re often very appealing, but only temporarily satisfying. Author and Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll wrote: ‘Life on earth is really nothing more than a string of moments…And I don’t want my testimony for Jesus Christ to be shattered by a single moment of indulging my flesh. I don’t want one moment of rage or pride or lust to cast a shadow over a lifetime of walking with my Lord. Frankly, I fear that possibility. And do you know what? I want to fear that possibility. When I stop fearing it – I’m in grave danger.’
So how do we deal with our temptations? The only way is to make God’s Word our code of conduct and refuse to compromise. We should make Jesus our role model when it comes to resisting temptation. He said, ‘If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want’ (Matthew 16:24 NCV). It’s hard to deny ourselves things we want, but if we practise resisting the small temptations that we face every day, we’ll be much better prepared when a big temptation comes along.
2 Cor 1-4; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 78:56-64; Prov 20:25
2021-09-14
Psalm 122:1 NKJV
The psalmist said, ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”‘ Our churches should be places that we’re happy to go to, where we feel at home, and where we’re welcomed by other believers. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words: ‘God is building a home. He’s using us all – irrespective of how we got here – in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day – a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home’ (Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG).
There are times when we need to be alone with God in prayer, and there are times we’ll find the answers we’re looking for when we’re with other Christians. When we meet for worship, teaching, encouragement and service, God shows up in a powerful way. We grow spiritually as we experience His presence, hear His Word, and spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Every time we gather with other members of Christ’s body, it’s an opportunity to share how God’s working in our lives and our experiences of His goodness.
It’s hard to celebrate alone; when we achieve something or have good news, it’s fun to share the joy we feel. Jesus is so excited about His victory at the cross that He calls us together to celebrate what He accomplished for us. And celebration is a group project.
Eze 46-48; Luke 21:25-38; Ps 78:40-55; Prov 20:22-24
Psalm 122:1 NLV
Die Psalmdigter het gesê: “Ek was bly toe hulle vir my gesê het: ‘Kom ons gaan na die huis van die Here.'” Voel jy ook so oor God se huis? Paulus skryf: ‘…Julle is deel van die gebou wat God in hierdie wêreld aan die bou is. Die fondament van die gebou is die boodskap oor Jesus wat julle gehoor het van die manne wat deur God gestuur is en namens Hom praat. Die belangrikste steen in die gebou, waarsonder die gebou sommer inmekaar sal val, is Jesus self. Omdat ons almal Jesus s’n is en Hy ons Here is, vorm ons almal saam ‘n sterk en stewige gebou. Dit is soos ‘n spesiale huis net vir God. Elkeen van julle wat Jesus s’n is, is deel van hierdie gebou. En God self woon in julle gebou omdat sy Gees in julle is’ (Efesiërs 2:20-22 DB).
Daar is tye wanneer jy alleen met God in gebed moet wees en daar is tye wat jy die antwoord wat jy soek, slegs sal vind wanneer jy saam met God se mense is. Wanneer diegene in wie God se Gees woon bymekaar kom vir lofprysing, onderrig, bemoediging en diens, daag God op ‘n kragtige manier op. Jy groei geestelik soos jy sy teenwoordigheid ervaar, sy Woord hoor en genootskap met jou broers en susters in Christus het.
Dis moeilik om alleen fees te vier. Wanneer jy iets het wat gevier moet word, roep jy oor die algemeen mense bymekaar om in jou vreugde te deel, nie waar nie? Jesus was so opgewonde oor sy oorwinning aan die kruis, dat Hy ons elke week bymekaar roep om dit wat Hy vir ons bereik het, te vier. Feesviering, soos geestelike groei, is ‘n groepsprojek.
Sielskos: Eseg 46-48; Luk 21:25-38; Ps 78:40-55; Spr 20:22-24
